“We applaud the President for recognizing the need to address comprehensive tax reform and invest America’s transportation and infrastructure now. Today, Americans are voting with their feet by seeking out neighborhoods that are walkable, economically accessible and culturally vibrant. Many, however, are feeling the squeeze in their search for affordable housing and transportation options in great, walkable neighborhoods.

Real estate developers can help address gentrification, make housing more affordable, and improve social equity—all while making a profit. How do we make this possible? And how does public policy need to change in order to do so?

Pre-register now and join LOCUS on February 10, 2015 in downtown Atlanta, GA for a private luncheon at our LOCUS LinkUp: The Next Big Deals around Transit-Oriented Development in Atlanta. Municipalities across the country are eager to draw investment and bring jobs to their communities through mixed-use transit-oriented development. To help facilitate these efforts, LOCUS launched the LinkUp program to connect local elected officials with LOCUS real estate developers and investors to create more models of walkable, sustainable developments on the ground.

DID YOU KNOW: Low impact development and green infrastructure can increase rents, property values, retail sales, and energy savings? Participants learned about these benefits and more during our LOCUS Wednesday Webinar: Benefits of Low Impact Development and Green Infrastructure.

On March 11, 2015, join LOCUS for our first-ever regional leadership summit—hosted in Boston, MA. The 2015 LOCUS New England Leadership Summit: Closing the Next [Smart Growth] Deal will convene responsible real estate developers and investors to network, hear from business and real estate industry experts, and tell policymakers what their businesses need to build the region’s next great walkable places.

Modeled after the national LOCUS Leadership Summit, the 2015 LOCUS New England Summit will bring together top local elected officials and real estate developers for networking and dealmaking.

Warwick, RI’s Intermodal Business Center was one of the new projects discussed at last month’s LOCUS LinkUp. Photo via City Center Warwick.

On November 20, 2014, real estate developers and local leaders came together at a LOCUS LinkUp to discuss new opportunities for building walkable neighborhoods in the greater Boston area.

LOCUS President Christopher Leinberger framed the day’s discussion with a preview of forthcoming research part of The WalkUp Wake Up Call: Boston, which will take an in-depth look at where future development will likely occur in the region. Boston is already home to some of the country’s most walkable places—LinkUp attendees got a sneak peak of how that trend will bear out in coming years.

At LOCUS LinkUps, smart growth deals between local leaders and real estate developers and investors get done.

When great new walkable real estate gets built, both communities and developers reap the benefits. But strong relationships are key: Smart growth-minded local leaders must connect with developers and investors—in the right place, at the right time—to get the ball rolling.

That’s where our LOCUS LinkUps come in.

In 2013, LOCUS: Responsible Real Estate Developers and Investors launched the LinkUp program to bring smart growth-minded local leaders and real estate professionals together. Through these private networking events, key players get the opportunity to discuss new smart growth deal opportunities and objectives for creating walkable, sustainable development. Every LinkUp features networking opportunities with top real estate CEOs and executives, information about available sites from local officials, and expert guidance on supporting the development of walkable places through policy change.

Smart Growth America is seeking an enthusiastic intern for advocacy work with LOCUS: Responsible Real Estate Developers and Investors. The intern will provide direct support to the LOCUS network of real estate developers and investors advocating for smart growth policies at the federal and regional levels. Core responsibilities include: drafting legislative summaries for network members, organizing Hill briefings and meetings, drafting advocacy materials on core network issues, managing correspondence with network members, following up with and providing materials to potential recruits, and assisting the President of LOCUS with scheduling and general administrative tasks as needed.